Discovering the value of international education

CEBU, Philippines - When Cindy Chandra decided to study in Australia, she had only one thing in mind and that is to be able to experience new things.

Ten years after, Chandra is convinced that her decision has been the best she ever made, the reason why at present she works for her alma mater, Trinity College, as marketing and admission manager. Her work entails convincing foreign students to study at Trinity for their foundation program before proceeding to higher studies.

Chandra admitted that studying abroad could be expensive; however, as an investment, the return is much more than what one would expect. Chandra did not only learn a new language, gain a new experience, and able to finish her University studies at one of the world's best universities. More importantly, she was able to build a network of international contacts, which she claims is now helping her raise awareness on Australian education.

For Filipino students who have not taken an International Baccalaureate degree, foundation studies would be needed before getting acceptance to an Australian university. This is where Trinity College would come in. After foundation studies at Trinity, the student is assured of entry to the University of Melbourne, which is consistently recognized as one of the top 30 universities in the world, should he/she satisfy the pre-requisites for entry.

Chandra, however, is confident that all those who enter Trinity are most likely to be accepted at the University of Melbourne, considering that Trinity is a part of the university. That is why, its curriculum is really geared towards entry to the university. Since it is one of Australia's hardest to qualify, entry to other universities would be much easier.

Trinity College is just one of the many Australian schools who will be in Cebu come November 16, Friday, to participate in the first World Education Exhibit at Cebu City Marriott Hotel, and on November 17 to 18 at DusitThani Hotel in Manila.

Rhodelio Campilan, IDP Cebu manager, said that for more than 40 years, IDP Education has been providing services to students wanting to study in Australia. Four years ago, IDP Philippines, through its global network, begand to help students wanting to study in the USA, UK, New Zealand, and Canada.

"These (locations) are the preference of most Filipinos," said Campilan.

He revealed that providing education counseling to students wanting to study abroad is only one of IDP's core services. Other services include the administration of IELTS or the International English Language Testing, student placement, and developmental services that include scholarships and the administration of World Bank assisted projects aimed at helping uplift "certain colleges and universities" in the country.

Campilan said that representatives from the different universities and colleges that they serve will be onsite to answer questions. In addition, there will also be seminars and talks on overseas education, as well as consultations.

International education is something that will provide students with an enriching and rewarding experience that could last for a lifetime. It could open one's mind to the nuances of the world and help foster better international relations and understanding. These qualities assure the student of a better future marked by opportunities to the best careers globally.

For more information, contact IDP Cebu at (032) 2362758 or (032) 2360945. They can also be reached through email at [email protected]. (With reports from Ritche T. Salgado. Photo grabbed from idp.com). (FREEMAN)